• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.874-883
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• 2011

Many studies have shown that the steamed root of Rehmannia glutinosa (SRG), which is widely used in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases in the context of Korean traditional medicine, is effective for improving cognitive and memory impairments. The purpose of this study was to examine whether SRG extracts improved memory defects caused by administering scopolamine (SCO) into the brains of rats. The effects of SRG on the acetylcholinergic system and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus were also investigated. Male rats were administered daily doses of SRG (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days, 1 h before scopolamine injection (2 mg/kg, i.p.). After inducing cognitive impairment via scopolamine administration, we conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) and the Morris water maze (MWM) test as behavioral assessments. Changes in cholinergic system reactivity were also examined by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the reactivity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the hippocampus. Daily administration of SRG improved memory impairment according to the PAT, and reduced the escape latency for finding the platform in the MWM. The administration of SRG consistently significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and decreased interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA expression in the hippocampus. The results demonstrated that SRG had a significant neuroprotective effect against the neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction caused by scopolamine in rats. These results suggest that SRG may be useful for improving cognitive functioning by stimulating cholinergic enzyme activities and alleviating inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.390-398
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• 2013

Objective : We determined whether the relationship between the neuropsychological performance of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their psychopathological characteristics measured by disability evaluation are interrelated. In addition, we assessed which psychopathological variable was most influential on neuropsychological performance via statistical clustering of the same characteristics of mild TBI. Methods : A total of 219 disability evaluation participants with mild brain injury were selected. All participants were classified into three groups, based on their psychopathological characteristics, via a two-step cluster analysis using validity and clinical scales from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Symptom Checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R). The Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS), Korean Memory Assessment Scale (K-MAS) and the Korean Boston Naming Test (K-BNT) were used to evaluate the neurocognitive functions of mild TBI patients. Results : Over a quarter (26.9%) experienced severe psychopathological symptoms and 43.4% experienced mild or moderate psychopathological symptoms, and all of the mild TBI patients showed a significant relationship between neurocognitive functions and subjective and/or objective psychopathic symptoms, but the degree of this relationship was moderate. Variances of neurocognitive function were explained by neurotic and psychotic symptoms, but the role of these factors were different to each other and participants did not show intelligence and other cognitive domain decrement except for global memory abilities compared to the non-psychopathology group. Conclusion : Certain patients with mild TBI showed psychopathological symptoms, but these were not directly related to cognitive decrement. Psychopathology and cognitive decrement are discrete aspects in patients with mild TBI. Furthermore, the neurotic symptoms of mild TBI patients made positive complements to decrements or impairments of neurocognitive functions, but the psychotic symptoms had a negative effect on neurocognitive functions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.160-167
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• 2019

Depression is a major mood disorder. Abnormal expression of glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) is associated with depression. Schisantherin B (STB) is one bioactive of lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill which has been commonly used as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. This paper was designed to investigate the effects of STB on depressive mice induced by forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, we also assessed the impairment of FST on cognitive function in mice with different ages. FST and open field test (OFT) were used for assessing depressive symptoms, and Y-maze was used for evaluating cognition processes. Our study showed that STB acting as an antidepressant, which increased GLT-1 levels by promoting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Although the damage is reversible, short-term learning and memory impairment caused by FST test is more serious in the aged mice, and STB also exerts cognition improvement ability in the meanwhile. Our findings suggested that STB might be a promising therapeutic agent of depression by regulating the GLT-1 restoration as well as activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.435-443
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• 2022

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disease that develops following exposure to a traumatic event and is a stress-associated mental disorder characterized by an imbalance of neuroinflammation. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is the herbal supplement that is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We aimed to investigate the effects of KRG on neuroinflammation as a potential mechanism involved in single prolonged stress (SPS) that negatively influences memory formation and consolidation and leads to cognitive and spatial impairment by regulating BDNF signaling, synaptic proteins, and the activation of NF-κB. Methods: We analyzed the cognitive and spatial memory, and inflammatory cytokine levels during the SPS procedure. SPS model rats were injected intraperitoneally with 20, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day KRG for 14 days. Results: KRG administration significantly attenuated the cognitive and spatial memory deficits, as well as the inflammatory reaction in the hippocampus associated with activation of NF-κB in the hippocampus induced by SPS. Moreover, the effects of KRG were equivalent to those exerted by paroxetine. In addition, KRG improved the expression of BDNF mRNA and the synaptic protein PSD-95 in the hippocampus. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that KRG exerts memory-improving actions by regulating anti-inflammatory activities and the NF-κB and neurotrophic pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRG is a potential functional ingredient for protecting against memory deficits in mental diseases, such as PTSD.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.195-203
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• 2014

We investigated the effect low salt (2 or 4% salt) concentrations jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the learning and memory impairments in scopolamine-induced (2 mg/kg, i.p.) dementia rats. Rats treated with oral BF-7 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) as a positive control and Todarodes pacificus jeotgal had significantly reduced scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the passive avoidance test. The Morris water maze test or treatment with 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the formation of long- and short-term memory. The acetylcholine content and acetylcholinesterase acitivity paralleled the results of the behavior experiment. There were no significant differences in the brain acetylcholine contents of the experimental groups, while the brain acetylcholine content of the group treated with 2% salt Todarodes pacificus jeotgal was higher than that of the control group. The inhibitory effect of 2% salt jeotgal made from Todarodes pacificus on the acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain was lower than that of the control group. These trends were similar to those of the gamma-aminobutyric acid content. We suggest that Todarodes pacificus jeotgal enhances learning memory and cognitive function by regulating cholinergic enzymes.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권2호통권70호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

Objective : Gagamchongmyung-tang is clinically one of the most popular prescriptions as an herbal medicine for the treatment of amnesia. In order to evaluate its neuroprotective effects on the ischemia-induced cognitive deficits caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we examined its ability to reduce impairments of learning and memory of rats in the Morris water maze. Method and Result : Focal cerebral ischemia produced a decrease in acetylcholine transmission in the hippocampus, and deficits of learning and memory in the Morris water maze task. Treatment with two types of Gagamchongmyung-tang, methanol and water extracts, produced a substantial increase in acquisition in the Morris water maze. Treatment with methanol extract of Gagamchongmyung-tang increased the performance of the retention test in the Morris water maze. Consistent with behavioral data, immunohistochemical data showed that treatment with methanol extract, but not water extract, of Gagamchongmyung-tang significantly recovered reduction of AchE and ChAT reactivity in the hippocampal CAl area. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that methanol extract of Gagamchongmyung-tang has protective effects against ischemia-induced learning and memory impairments, and provided evidence of methanol extract of Gagamchongmyung-tang as a putative treatment for amnesia, vascular dementia, and longer memory.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.417-425
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 도라지 추출물에 대한 세포 독성을 확인하였으며, $A{\beta}$에 의한 PC12 세포 독성에 대한 보호효과를 관찰하였다. 또한 도라지 추출물과 도라지 추출물 연양갱을 4주간 강제 경구 투여하여 Morris 수중미로시험에서 도달지점까지의 도달시간이 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱 투여에 의해서 모두에서 유의하게 감소하였다. 이와 유사하게 수동회피시험에서도 자극이 있는 어두운 방을 나오는 시간이 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱 투여에 의해서 현저하게 감소하였다. 따라서 도라지 추출물 및 도라지 추출물 연양갱은 인지능 개선에 도움을 줄 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.325-333
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• 2021

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and oleanolic acid (OA) are small, bioactive compounds found in ginseng that can promote NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro. However, it is currently unknown whether PPD or OA can attenuate cognitive deficits by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo in a transgenic APP/PS1 AD mouse model. Here, we administered PPD or OA to APP/PS1 mice and monitored the effects on cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: We used the Morris water maze, Y maze, and open field tests to compare the cognitive capacities of treated and untreated APP/PS1 mice. We investigated hippocampal neurogenesis using Nissl staining and BrdU/NeuN double labeling. NSC proliferation was quantified by Sox2 labeling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We used western blotting to determine the effects of PPD and OA on Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Results: Both PPD and OA significantly ameliorated the cognitive impairments observed in untreated APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, PPD and OA significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and NSC proliferation. At the mechanistic level, PPD and OA treatments resulted in Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: PPD and OA ameliorate cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, achieved by stimulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. As such, PPD and OA are promising novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.564-569
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• 2019

최근 알코올 소비량이 증가함에 따라 과량의 에탄올을 섭취하는 경우 또한 늘어나고 있다. 이런 과도한 에탄올 섭취는 ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 수용체의 활성화와 glutamate 수용체의 활성 억제를 통해 신경계를 교란시켜 단기 기억 형성을 방해 한다. 알코올에 의한 인지기능의 저하는 알코올성 black out을 유도할 수 있으며, 반복될 경우 알코올성 치매로 이어질 수 있기 때문에 black out을 예방하는 치료제의 개발이 필요하다. 따라서 본 연구자는 해당 연구를 통하여 Cassia obtusifolia seeds 에탄올 추출물(COE)이 가진 black out 예방제로써의 가능성을 평가하였다. 본 연구에서는 에탄올에 의해 유도된 기억 장애에 대한 COE의 효과를 확인하였다. 실험 동물의 기억력을 측정하기 위하여 수동 회피 실험과 Y자 미로 실험을 수행하였고, 마우스 해마 절편을 사용하여 에탄올이 기억의 형성과 관련하여 장기 강화(long term potentiation; LTP)에 어떠한 영향을 끼치는지 전기생리학을 통해 확인하였다. 또한 ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid 수용체 길항제인 NBQX ($50{\mu}M$)를 사용하여 에탄올에 의한 인지기능 장애와 관련이 있다고 알려진 N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) 매개 field 흥분성 시냅스 후 전위를 측정하였다. 결과적으로, COE는 에탄올에 의한 기억력의 손상을 방지하였고, 해마 절편에서 에탄올에 의해 감소된 LTP와 NMDA 매개 흥분성 시냅스 후 전위를 대조군과 비슷한 수준까지 회복시켰다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.665-675
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), an active ingredient in ginseng, may be a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the protective effect of Rg1 on neurodegeneration in AD and its mechanism of action are still incompletely understood. Methods: Wild type (WT) and APP/PS1 AD mice, from 6 to 9 months old, were used in the experiment. The open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM) were used to detect behavioral changes. Neuronal damage was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) were used to examine postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) expression, amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, Tau and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and NAPDH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression. Results: Rg1 treatment for 12 weeks significantly ameliorated cognitive impairments and neuronal damage and decreased the p-Tau level, amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, and Aβ generation in APP/PS1 mice. Meanwhile, Rg1 treatment significantly decreased the ROS level and NOX2 expression in the hippocampus and cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Conclusions: Rg1 alleviates cognitive impairments, neuronal damage, and reduce Aβ deposition by inhibiting NOX2 activation in APP/PS1 mice.